Seeing September as a fresh start.

I don’t know about you, but I always see September and autumn as a second spring. It’s like a new start and I’ll be honest when I say I can’t wait for the crisp mornings, cracking sunsets and the fresh perspective that comes with it. When I was younger I would get so excited to go back to school shopping; I’d buy a new rucksack, a pencil case filled with more novelty stationary you could shake a stick at, and I’d skip into school with my shiny new shoes, ready for the year ahead and the excitement that came with it.

And I still feel like that now. The summer coming to an end is bittersweet for me. I’m alway sad to kiss goodbye to the long carefree days and the memories made. But I’m always excited for September and the change in the seasons. I’m taking this as an opportunity to reflect and to look ahead at the final few months of 2018. Here’s what I want to do this autumn…

1. Enjoy my new flat

August has been a bit of a weird month for me. It’s been my first month as a home owner, as I finally got the keys to my little flat at the end of July, but the majority of it has been spent arranging furniture deliveries, cleaning up after having things fitted, waiting on hold to energy companies to sort out my bills, and honest to God if I have to spend another Friday night running around IKEA I’ll scream.

However, it’s all been completely worth it as finally my beautiful home is complete and I couldn’t be happier. I am so in love with every nook and cranny of this place that I call mine, and I’m really looking forward to the cosier autumnal evenings, spent watching the sunset through the balcony doors whilst wrapped in a woolly blanket with candles burning and fairy lights twinkling. Bliss!

2. Get outdoors more

This summer has been such an incredible one. The month long heatwave really made it for me, and it was the first I spent in Cardiff properly so I really made the most of it. I spent time with really wonderful people. There were lots of sunset walks, trips to food festivals, nights out with friends. I holidayed in Majorca, went to Radio 1’s Biggest Weekend, had a girly trip to London, and just thoroughly enjoyed being out and about with friends and family. It was a summer that was unexpected, but so fantastic in so many ways.

However, I’ve found that with moving and having so much to sort out, and with the change in the weather too, August was spent in a bit of a monotonous way. Work, gym, home, with most weekends spent sorting thing sin the flat. I have really missed the sunshine and the chance to get outdoors at every opportunity. And I feel like I need to embrace the autumn weather and to escape the city a little more.

So, in honour of this, my mum and I headed to Bath last weekend for a trip around the Roman Baths and for a much needed shopping day. It made me realise there’s so much just an hour away from my doorstep, and I really need to get out and about more. I’m also heading to Canada on Saturday for a holiday, and I’m so excited to spend time hiking, exploring and just generally making new memories through new experiences. I’ve always turned to nature and the outdoors when I need a break, and I definitely need to do more of this again. I’m desperate to head back to West Wales too, as I haven’t had a weekend home for months, and I really want to visit all of my favourite beaches and places before the winter really sets in.

3. Read more

At the start of 2018 I said I wanted to read more, and apart from my holiday to Majorca, I’ve really not succeeded in smashing this goal. I say it all the time but I spend far too much time aimlessly scrolling away on my phone, when I should be getting my teeth stuck into a good book. The plan is to read the three unread books I have stashed in my bedside cabinet, and then I’m going to join the library and want to start to learn more about the world around me.

4. Plan a weekend city break for the Winter

Yay to more travel plans! I feel like I’ve really been bitten by the travel bug lately, and I really want to plan a little sightseeing city break for November. Any recommendations would be welcome, but I’m thinking Budapest or Prague.

5. Smash the Cardiff Half Marathon

And finally, this is something I’ve been working towards for the past nine months. In just over 4 weeks time, I will be running the Cardiff Half Marathon. I’m slightly terrified, weirdly excited, and I’m looking forward to putting all the training into practise. I never thought I’d be able to run a half marathon, and I’m really hoping that my hard work will pay off and I’ll get around the course without having to stop or walk. I’m not bothered by time, it’s all about making it around and feeling good about it.

The most surprising thing is that I have actually really enjoyed training. I now go out once, sometimes twice, a week for a good 6-7 mile run, when before January I could barely run 5km without having to stop and walk once or twice. These long runs are definitely “my time”, and a really good way for me to unwind and destress. The route that takes me around Cardiff Bay definitely helps too!

Lovely photos of Bath and I love your outfit! Going back to school was always so much fun when you had a new rucksack, and pencil case full of pens and pencils wasn't it?!xAmber | http://www.amberatlanta.blogspot.co.uk

I definitely want to get outdoors more this Autumn too! I want to take advantage of the milder Autumn weather and go for lots of walks because I hate being out in the Winter when it's freezing, haha! xwww.clionahill.com

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Hello and welcome to jessie-ann.co.uk, a lifestyle and travel blog written by Jessie-Ann Lewis. I'm a 25 year old journo, currently working as a TV production researcher in Cardiff. I love to travel, take photos, and blog all about it!